Divinyl selenide: conformational study and stereochemical behavior of its 77Se-1H spin-spin coupling constants

Theoretical energy-based conformational analysis of divinyl selenide performed at the MP2/6-311G** level is substantiated by the second-order polarization propagator approach (SOPPA) calculations and experimental measurements of its (77)Se-(1)H spin-spin coupling constants, demonstrating marked stereochemical behavior in respect of the internal rotation of both vinyl groups around the Se-C bonds. Based on these data, divinyl selenide is shown to exist in an equilibrium mixture of three nonplanar conformers: one the preferred syn-s-cis-s-trans and two minor anti-s-trans-s-trans and syn-s-trans-s-trans forms.     

Detection of the administration of 17beta-nortestosterone in boars by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

17beta-Nortestosterone (17betaN) is illegally used in livestock as a growth promoter and its endogenous production has been described in some animals, such as adult boars. In this paper, the metabolism of 17betaN in boars has been studied by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in order to identify markers of the exogenous administration. Administration studies of intramuscular 17betaN laurate to male pigs were performed. Free, sulphate and glucuronide fractions of the urine samples were separated and the steroids present were quantified by GC/MS. 17betaN was detected in some pre-administration samples. After administration, 17betaN, norandrosterone, noretiocholanolone (NorE), norepiandrosterone, 5beta-estrane-3alpha,17beta-diol and 5alpha-estrane-3beta,17beta-diol were detected in different fractions, being the most important metabolites, 17betaN excreted as a sulphate and free NorE. Samples collected in routine controls were also analyzed by GC/MS to identify endogenous compounds. 17betaN, norandrostenedione and estrone were detected in almost all the samples. No other 17betaN metabolites were detected. According to these results, the detection by GC/MS of some of the 17betaN metabolites described above, different from 17betaN, could be indicative of the exogenous administration of 17betaN to boars.     

Synthesis of enantiopure (R)-2-(4-methoxy-3-(3-methoxypropoxy)-benzyl)-3-methylbutanoic acid—a key intermediate for the preparation of Aliskiren

The enantioselective hydrogenation of (E)-2-(4-methoxy-3-(3-methoxypropoxy)-benzylidene)-3-methylbutanoic acid (1) to (R)-2-(4-methoxy-3-(3-methoxypropoxy)-benzyl)-3-methylbutanoic acid (2)—a key intermediate in the synthesis of the pharmacologically important renin inhibitor Aliskiren—is described. The stereochemistry of the catalytic transformation has been studied using a number of homogeneous chiral Rh(I) and Ru(II) complexes bearing ferrocene-based phosphine ligands. The highest enantioselectivity for the homogeneous hydrogenation of 1 (up to 95% ee) was achieved with a [Rh(NBD)₂]BF₄ pre-catalyst (substrate/catalyst ratio 100:1, 10 bar H₂, 40 °C, in MeOH). To bring the enantioselectivity to perfection an effective method for the isolation of the enantiopure carboxylic acid is suggested likewise.     

Fluoride-catalyzed hydroalkoxylation of hexafluoropropene with 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol

Trifluoroethoxylation of hexafluoropropene with 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) were conducted using an alkali metal fluoride catalyst to produce CF₃CHFCF₂OCH₂CF₃. KF exhibited the highest yield and selectivity of CF₃CHFCF₂OCH₂CF₃, whereas LiF and NaF were inactive for the trifluoroethoxylation reaction. The same reaction also proceeded well in the presence of RbF or CsF, but yielded large amounts of olefinic and high molecular weight side products, implying that the size of alkali metal cation or the degree of MF dissociation plays an important role in determining the activity and the product composition. FT-IR and NMR experiments revealed that CsF interacts with TFE more strongly than KF through a hydrogen bonding. The experimental and spectroscopic results suggest that the degree of MF dissociation should be in the medium range for the selective production of CF₃CHFCF₂OCH₂CF₃ in high yield and selectivity.     

Synthesis of porphyryl boronates with (un)saturated side-chains

Porphyrins with (un)saturated side-chains containing boron residues were developed as synthons for porphyrin functionalisation. Porphyrins with mono and bis-substituted unsaturated boronyl residues were prepared in good yields (52-66%) using a cross-metathesis approach in the presence of Grubbs I-generation catalysts. In all cases complete E-stereoselectivity (100%) was observed. Furthermore, formal cross-metathesis products with α,β-unsaturated chains smoothly underwent addition with bis(pinacolato)diboron [(Me₄C₂O₂)B-B(O₂C₂Me₄)] to yield the corresponding saturated boron compounds in 60-70% yields.     

Synthesis, crystal structure and thermal behavior of dimethylgold(III) derivatives of salicylaldimine Schiff bases - Novel precursors for gold MOCVD applications

Dimethylgold(III) complexes with salicylaldimine Schiff bases of general formula Me₂Au(SalN-R) (R = methyl (1), iso-propyl (2), or cyclohexyl (3)) have been synthesized in a single step reaction from dimethylgold(III) iodide [Me₂AuI]₂ and N-substituted salicylaldimines. Single-crystal X-ray studies provide evidence of mononuclear four-coordinated complexes with square-planar coordination geometry. The temperature dependences of saturated vapour pressure of complexes have been studied by the Knudsen effusion method with mass spectrometric analysis of the composition of the gas phase. The thermodynamic parameters of the sublimation process ΔH^o_T and ΔS^o_T have been calculated. Thermal decomposition of the vapour of compounds has been studied by means of high temperature mass spectrometry in a vacuum, and by-products have been determined. All of these complexes show good volatility and thermal stability. For complex 2, which is more volatile and low-melting, pulse MOCVD experiments have been carried out at substrate temperatures lower than 200 °C. The deposited gold nanoparticles (5-15 nm) have been investigated by means of SEM and AFM.     

Benefits of applying combined diffuse reflectance FTIR spectroscopy and principal component analysis for the study of blue tempera historical painting

This paper explores the application of diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) to the examination of historic blue pigments and blue tempera paintings commonly found on works of art. The discussion is mainly focused on the practical benefits of using this technique joined to principal component analysis (PCA), a powerful multivariate analysis tool. Thanks to the study of several replica samples that contain either pure blue pigments (azurite, lapis lazuli and smalt), or pure binder (rabbit glue) and mixtures of each of the pigments with the binder (tempera samples), different aspects of these benefits are highlighted. Comparative results of direct spectra and multivariate analysis using transmittance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (T-FTIR) are discussed throughout this study. Results showed an excellent ability of PCA on DRIFT spectra for discriminating replica samples according to differing composition. Several IR regions were tested with this aim; the fingerprint IR region exhibited the best ability for successfully clustering the samples. The presence of the binder was also discriminated. Only using this approach it was possible to completely separate all the studied replica samples. This demonstrates the potential benefits of this approach in identifying historical pigments and binders for conservation and restoration purposes in the field of Cultural Heritage.     

PalladiumII and platinumII complexes with heteroditopic 10-(aryl)phenoxarsine (aryl = 2-C6H4OR, R = H, Me, Pr(i)) ligands: solvent-oriented crystallization of cis isomers

The synthesis and characterization of 10-(o-alkoxyphenyl)phenoxarsines 2-ROC6H4As(C6H4)2O (R = H, Me, and Pri, As(C6H4)2O = phenoxarsine) and their platinum(II) and palladium(II) complexes cis-[PtCl2{2-PriOC6H4As(C6H4)2O-kappaAs}2] (1), trans-[PdCl2{2-PriOC6H4As(C6H4)2O-kappaAs}2] (2), cis-[PtCl2{2-HOC6H4As(C6H4)2O-kappaAs}2] (3), cis-[PdCl2{2-HOC6H4As(C6H4)2O-kappaAs}2] (4), cis-[PtI2{2-MeOC6H4As(C6H4)2O-kappaAs}2] (5), and trans-[PdCl2{2-MeOC6H4As(C6H4)2O-kappaAs}2] (6) are reported. The chelate complex cis-[Pt{2-OC6H4As(C6H4)2O-kappaAs,O}2] (7) is also described. The molecular structures of 1-4 and 7 were determined. The short As...O intramolecular interaction found in complexes 1-4 in the solid state was also verified by calculations at the B3LYP/LANL2DZ level for complex 2 and for 10-(o-isopropoxyphenyl)phenoxarsine in the gas phase, and this suggests that the interaction is a characteristic of the ligand rather than a packing effect. Calculations at the B3LYP/LANL2DZ and Oniom(B3LYP/LANL2DZ:uff) levels for complexes 1-4 showed that the solvent plays a crucial role in the crystallization (through geometry constraints) of the kinetically stable cis isomers.     

Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution over mesoporous TiO2/metal nanocomposites

Na⁺ complex with the dibenzo-18-crown-6 ester was used as a template to synthesize mesoporous titanium dioxide with the specific surface area 130–140 m²/g, pore diameter 5–9 nm and anatase content 70–90%. The mesoporous TiO₂ samples prepared were found to have photocatalytic activity in Cu^II, Ni^II and Ag^I reduction by aliphatic alcohols. The resulting metal–semiconductor nanostructures have remarkable photocatalytic activity in hydrogen evolution from water–alcohol mixtures, their efficiency being 50–60% greater than that of the metal-containing nano-composites based on TiO₂ Degussa P25.The effects of the thermal treatment of mesoporous TiO₂ upon its photocatalytic activity in hydrogen production were studied. The anatase content and pore size were found to be the basic parameters determining the photoreaction rate. The growth of the quantum yield of hydrogen evolution from TiO₂/Ag⁰ to TiO₂/Ni⁰ to TiO₂/Cu⁰ was interpreted in terms of differences in the electronic interaction between metal nanoparticles and the semiconductor surface. It was found that there is an optimal metal concentration range where the quantum yield of hydrogen production is maximal. A decrease in the photoreaction rate at further increment in the metal content was supposed to be connected with the enlargement of metal nanoparticles and deterioration of the intimate electron interaction between the components of the metal–semiconductor nanocomposites.     

Can glycans unveil the origin of glycoprotein hormones? - human chorionic gonadotrophin as an example -

Doping with (glyco)protein hormones represent an extremely challenging, analytical problem as nearly all are constitutively present at low concentrations that fluctuate according to circadian or alternative periodical, or external stimuli. Thus the mere concentration in a biological sample is only resolutive when this surpasses extreme values. As the vast majority of these molecules are produced by recombinant DNA technology it is believed that the exogenous molecules could bear the signature of the host cell. In particular, these could comprise structural differences originated from co or post-translational differences. In this study we have employed both proteomics and glycomics strategies to compare recombinant and urinary human chorionic gonadotrophin in order to evaluate this hypothesis. As anticipated the recombinant hormone could be shown to contain N-glycolyl neuraminic acid, a sialic acid that cannot be produced by humans. Furthermore, differences were observed in the overall glycosylation, in particular the presence of abundant hybrid-type glycans that were much less pronounced in the recombinant species. These differences were determined to occur predominantly in the alpha-subunit for which antidoping strategies focussed on these elements could be used for both chorionic gonadotrophin and lutrophin as they share the same alpha-subunit.